Merry Christmas

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."     Romans 15:13

As you consider the great things God has done for you this year, we trust that you will be filled with joy and peace as you celebrate the birth of His Son, our Redeemer.

Today, South Sudan is in the midst of conflict.  Please join us in praying for peace. Reports coming out of South Sudan say the conflict is primarily between the Dinka and the Nuer people.   We know both Dinka and Nuer and we are very disappointed at this development.
ABC is reporting the uncovering of a mass grave by the UN in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State - 84 miles northwest of Leer where we stayed on our visit to Unity State during our months in South Sudan. They are saying that thousands have died thus far.
South Sudan is in a precarious situation; the infrastructure is little to non-existent, this conflict will have a great residual effect on the many who live a hand to mouth existence.

Do you remember meeting Matthew and his wife, Sarah on our visit to Unity State?  They are Nuer and live in Leer, very near the conflict. Please pray God's protection upon them. Pray that Matthew, the young men he is mentoring, and his church will allow the light of God's love and peace to shine through them to those around them in turmoil.
Click here to read the post about Leer and the Nuer people.

We do want to wish you a wonderful Christmas.  Share the love of Christ with someone today -- after all He is the reason we celebrate!

Merry Christmas.

A celebration of God's goodness -- a Sema leather story

Years ago, a young family, successfully involved in the business world, was led by God to bring their business knowledge and strategy to the mission field.  Unsure of how God would use them, they were obedient.

 It wasn't until today, many years later, the culmination of years of prayer and hard work have brought folks to the point of celebration and the beginnings of a small business venture confidently placed into national hands.

(An ongoing challenge on the third world mission field is the ability for a pastor to care for his family financially and pastor a church.  Most churches are small with the congregation not able to support their own families financially.  The concept of bi-vocational/tentmaker is one way to help in this area.)

As the missionary family prayed and researched different business avenues, God provided an answer for this particular business endeavor – leather goods.  With many Kenyan tribes being herdsmen, the raw materials would be available. A reliable source was found, craftsmen with ability in leather design were sourced to train leather craft apprentices, possible sales outlets were discovered, and the business plan was in place.

Now for the men who would be involved.  Talent in leatherwork was not a requirement.  The requirement was a heart for God.

Sema Leatherworks began in 2009.

The road has been rough; folks have come and gone within the project.  Yet still, people are learning a skill and are being blessed; but more importantly, many are hearing the Word of the Lord and God is being glorified through this business venture.

The model includes training in church planting, personal evangelism, storying, and discipleship along with leather-craft.  The leather workshop is open four days a week; the remaining three days these pastors go out leading Bible studies and storying groups, doing one to one evangelism, and preaching the Gospel.

Today is not the end of Sema Leatherworks, it is only the beginning…  One of the men involved in Sema from the beginning is in the process of buying the equipment and with the help of two other Sema colleagues, will continue running Sema leatherworks using the same business model. Additionally, four men who trained and worked at Sema have branched out starting their own businesses through the encouragement of Sema leatherworks.

Click here to read some fascinating stories about Sema Leatherworks.

God has certainly brought these faithful men through adversity to stand on the firm foundation of faith in Him.

Pray for the ongoing impact of the Gospel through the faithful witness of these men.

Pray for God to be glorified, keeping the hearts of these men faithful and true to Himself.

As people witness God's hand on these faithful businessmen, pray for doors to open for additional opportunities of sharing the Gospel of Christ in the community.

... a few words about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us; as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.  Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”  I Corinthians 4: 1-2

If you know us very well, you know that we do not ask for things.  We know that God will provide for our needs.  The wisdom behind the International Mission Board supported by Southern Baptist churches and people who are called to support the global spread of the Gospel is that we are not always asking… God often provides for us through your cooperative giving.

Globally, times are hard – in Africa the term  is challenge – so, the U.S. economic crisis is a challenge, it is a challenge to pay the rent, put food on the table, and pay the utilities (especially in light of all the weather challenges the U.S. has faced recently!).

Overseas the situation is the same; challenged with the budget, we pray about direction and write up future ministry plans, figure the cost and submit it.  Then as the Lottie Moon Offering and the money received from the cooperative effort of Southern Baptists is counted and divided out across the globe, we pray, reevaluate, and stretch, trying to make do as best we can with the money given.


Last year, your giving enabled us to live in South Sudan, teaching the truth of Christ to many who had never heard and finding out about people groups, large and small, still needing to hear the truth.


Your giving provided the heavy-duty truck and you fixed the air conditioner in it THANK YOU!  With temperatures of 110*+ -- well, Debbie would've been one cranky passenger!





Your giving bought new dry cell batteries for the solar panels and a new water pump all of which enabled us to get water from the well.  We were blessed by your giving – you made living life in the middle of nowhere a bit easier.  Thank you.

During December, there is a special emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.  You can give through your church, designating the money for LMCO or you can give directing to the IMB using this link  Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Here is a unique way to give extra, beyond your offering, and it will not cost you anything!  Amazon is donating 0.5% of any purchase to a non-profit organization. If you plan on using Amazon for purchases this Christmas, just click on the following link before you start shopping:  http://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-0213930   this takes you to a page enabling  you to donate the percentage to the International Mission Board.

Did we say thank you?  We are so grateful for God’s provision through you.  Your giving enables us to spread the truth of Christ, finding those people who have never heard.  We know how tight things are and we know the sacrifice some of you make to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, please know that we set a high accountability upon ourselves to use these resources wisely for the glory of God.

Week of Prayer for International Missions

This is a reminder that this week is a time set aside for concerted prayer for international missions.
Click here to go to our prayer page and pray for some of the unreached and unengaged people groups of East Africa.

Thank you for taking time to pray for the glory of the Lord to fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.  (Habakkuk 2:14)

Ngiri people of Democratic Republic of Congo

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…"  
I Timothy 2:1,3-4

Once renowned warriors, the Ngbandi-Ngiri peoples today are looked down upon and discriminated against as “those forest people”.

Living in mud and thatch houses on the edge of the largest freshwater wetland area in all of Africa, the Ngbandi-Ngiri are a people living without the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Historically, the Ngiri and other people groups of small population size are grouped together under the umbrella of Ngbandi people. (Groups living in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, northern Congo and southern Central African Republic) These people have their roots in South Sudan and their history linked with the Zande people.

Fronds from palm trees are woven
together for use as roofing material
and even walls for their houses.

They are farming people with the women growing cassava, maize (corn), groundnuts (peanuts), papaya, and pineapple while the men clear farmland, fish and hunt.

While some sources report that almost 70 percent of the Ngbandi people practice a form of Christian religious activity, this is only to say they reject non-Christian sects such as Buddhism or Islam.  The reality is that very few understand the Gospel, practicing a syncretistic form of religion that involves spiritualism and ancestor worship.


There is an ongoing New Testament Bible translation effort among these people, but until that is complete; no scripture is available in the Ngbandi-Ngiri heart language.

Pray for these “people of the forest” that God would place in their hearts a longing to know Him.

We do not know much about the Ngbandi-Ngiri people – more research needs to be done to help us understand their culture and worldview in order to make a viable plan to plant Gospel seeds among them.

Ask God to make a way to reach isolated villages in this vast and heavily forested area.

Thanksgiving

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His;  we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.  For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100

What an incredible exhortation from the Lord via David!
Shout for joy
Worship with gladness
Know the Lord is Almighty God and we are His!
Enter with thanksgiving and praise
Give Him thanks
The Lord is good

As we look back at this year, we see God’s fingerprints all over our lives.

We are so thankful for the opportunity to spend some time learning language, for the opportunity to research and gain knowledge on many unreached and unengaged people groups, and for the partnerships made with individuals and churches to help engage and reach some of our unreached groups.  Probably our biggest thanksgiving comes with the knowledge of God’s protection and leadership in our lives; as we travel to various meetings and in our search for obscure people groups, we continually evidence God’s provision, leadership and protection.

We are also thankful for you – your faithful partnership with us through prayer; as you visit our blog, reading our adventures, you travel alongside us and partner with us. 

This Thanksgiving holiday is a good time to look back and remember all the things God has done this past year.  When we consider all He has done for us, we shout for joy and worship with gladness; we know God’s power, see His faithfulness and the love He displays in our lives; then, thanksgiving and praise will flow from our grateful hearts because indeed, the LORD is good!

What a great way to begin the holiday season – with thanksgiving!    

This is also the time of year to emphasize the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for world missions.  Did you know that every single penny given to the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes directly to the field to support world-wide mission work? 

We use this money in all kinds of ways, from purchasing Bibles in local languages to providing sturdy vehicles able to withstand the rugged terrain we find ourselves moving down in search of the unreached.  Without your support, we, and all Southern Baptist missionaries, would not be able to serve, and the people groups among whom we serve might not otherwise currently have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. There are many more missionaries waiting to be sent out. Please pray about giving even more this year to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions through your church or directly to the IMB by clicking this link, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, so that the many people groups among whom we serve, as well as those who are still waiting, will hear the Good News.

...a 'good' work or a 'greater' work

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.       James 1:27

There are many “good” works we can do,  but God designs “greater” works for us; works where He is glorified.

Walking down the dirt path, we hear the neighbors and children whisper, “CuCu, (show-show) they are coming to visit, CuCu.”

Meet Hanah Njeri – you can call her CuCu (show-show) or grandmother, in the Kikuyu language.  CuCu Njeri is one of the widows we are visiting today.  

As we enter the one room wooden structure, which is her home; she quickly shoves a plastic dishpan of soapy water out of the way; she has been washing her clothes, she explains.

Looking around the room, I realize how poor this woman is – the room is clean and tidy to be sure, but there is nothing beyond the very basic essentials needed for life – no extras.  She lives without electricity, water, or plumbing of any kind, which means she still carries the water she needs.  Notice on the floor the charcoal burner with the pot on it where she cooks her meals and the oil lamp hanging on the wall above it, her only light at night.  The tin cup on the table is the only cup she owns and we all sit on stools, she has no chairs.  Do you see the light coming in through the gaps in the wall?  

In her younger years, Hanah had only one child which survived, a girl.  After her husband died, Hanah was tasked with raising her daughter alone.  This daughter eventually married and had three children, but the daughter, too, died.  Now Hanah lives alone.  The grandchildren, now 15 – 19 years of age, come and visit on Saturdays every once in a while, not often.  

She has seen much disappointment and grief in her 74 years. 

We have a small gift for CuCu, some corn meal, sugar, rice, a loaf of bread, some soap and Keki (pronounced cake-ee, which is any baked goods with sugar in it) -- homemade banana bread.

While she is grateful for the gift, I believe what is most enjoyable is the visit -- the short time spent together talking about the Lord. 

Margret Atieno is the other widow we visit. She has seven children, the youngest of which still lives at home and is in high school. Her eldest son is currently without a job, it appears he is living with her now as well.

When the suggestion was raised to visit some of the widows of the church and time constraints became an issue,  it was suggested that money be put in an envelope and sent to the chosen widows – now before you gasp in horror you must realize the people in our small service are in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. They have full days of school or work and were looking only at the financial help they could provide – surely everyone could use a bit more money – a “good” work.

“Now I see”, said John, a member of the group who participated on the visitation, “I didn't realize how important the 'visit' would be to these ladies. I can go and just spend some time talking with them about Christ, I don't have to take anything to give them, the gift is my time."

 Many times in the busyness of life, we forget there are CuCu's (grandmothers) or grandfathers or other home-bound people who need a visit from us.  God can use us to demonstrate His care and concern. It could be the difference between a "good" work and a "greater" work.

on being a learner

Continuing to be a learner is important. Some people think that since we live in Africa – well -- that there is a distinct African culture, and we know it.  This is not true.

The image at the right illustrates the enormity of the African continent.


Our Sub-Saharan Africa affinity alone encompasses a land mass the size of the U.S., India, Western Europe, Mexico, Japan and part of China combined.


With so much land and so many people groups and languages, differences are inevitable.


But it is okay -- the love of Christ transcends nations, languages, and cultures.

Men pushing bicycles loaded down with matoke is a common sight
in parts of Uganda

Before this trip we had not had much experience with cooked matoke (mah-toe-kay) -- (cooking bananas or plantains).

We tried some in Tanzania, but it is not a prevalent dish in Southern Africa or in Kenya.

In parts of Uganda, however, matoke is a dietary staple.

Here is a truckload of matoke headed toward town.  I guess they don't smash!












We thought you might enjoy this short video clip of the local fuel station in Northeast Uganda.  Notice the mud building in the back housing the station office.

Pumping gas by hand is something we commonly experienced in Malawi, before the town received electricity.

Remember the fuel station in Leer, South Sudan?

It is a step up from the fuel station in Leer, South Sudan, if you remember the 50 gallon drums and tube-type hose we experienced there.







God wants us to continually learn more -- about Himself and about the people of the world enabling us to share His love in an understandable way which will touch the hearts of those who hear.

Ask God to help you be a learner allowing you to be effective as you tell others about Him.

Pray for those whom God is calling to share and minister among the Mening people.  Pray for open minds, quick to understand the Mening culture and beliefs, enabling them to be effective in their ability to share the Good News of God's gift of salvation.

Willingness

Reaching the Mening – what’s it gonna take?



"For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."   2 Corinthians 4: 5-6

It will not be easy, this task of taking the Light of God to the Mening people. The area is remote – you turn off the beaten path, then keep going!  But God has commissioned His people to “go into all the world.”

Number 7 --  Our home for the next three days

We are staying three nights in Karenga, Northeast Uganda at Number 7 -- the name of the establishment – not sure if there is a Number 1 – 6 anywhere.

Jerry and I have this room for the three nights -- yes, that is indeed a twin-sized bed, but it's okay -- being married only 31 years we are still young and in love!

Here is the ablution area for our group. There is no piped or running water, but two teenage boys fill this container with water every evening for all of us to use.

Behold -- a potty chair for those of us
with troublesome knees!

Laundry -- life in the African
bush can be a dirty dilemma!

Uncomplaining about the inconvenient living conditions – even laughing about some of the situations in which we find ourselves, the volunteers are great.

Reviewing the day each evening promotes cohesiveness.

Evening debrief gives each one an opportunity to share feelings about the experiences of the day, voice arising concerns, and ask questions to learn more about opening doors into better understanding of the Mening culture and belief system.

But this here --- this is what it is all about --- the opportunity to minister in the name of Christ!









Pray for U.S. churches and local African believers to catch a vision to reach the Mening people.

Pray for believers willing to live out of their comfort area and in rough conditions to bring light and life to Mening villages.

Seed sowers are needed to live among the Mening.

Welcome to a Mening home.

As we sit in Owili Gabriel’s compound, the women visiting with women and the men with the men; we are eager to learn all we can about the Mening way of life.

Meet Nanyang Betty, wife number three of Owili Gabriel, and their most recent child – number 17 (for him) -- I believe.


Living in such isolation the Mening encounter a myriad of challenges.  Many health issues stem from the lack of available medical care.  Malaria and complications during childbirth were mentioned as prevalent health issues.  There is a small clinic in this community which is open when the medical assistant makes the trip out.



The Mening are an agricultural people. They grow what they eat and more often than not, they eat all that they grow. So there isn't much left to sell, even if they could take their harvest to market.

Subsistence farming means dependency upon normal weather patterns – and we all know the lack of normalcy in weather patterns!

However, farming is their thing and if the size of this cabbage is any indication, they do it well!

The planting, weeding, harvesting, storing, preparing, and cooking of food is primarily the work of the women.

Another of Gabriel’s wives shows us where they store the grain after harvest. They use the dried gourd she is holding to scoop out the dried maize (corn), beans, or sorghum.





We are invited into the kitchen hut for a tour.  Inside it is a bit smoky as a pot is on the fire in the back corner, but we find something  amazing – of which these ladies are quite proud – and rightly so!

At the right of the doorway near the curved hut wall we see what appears to be a work station for grinding grain -- a very creative idea.  I've never seen anything like it.  The stones for grinding are embedded into a mud plaster work bench which stands about 12”-15” high.  As you can see from the picture there are four grinding areas, so four women can work together grinding grain.

The work bench is positioned about a foot from the wall enabling the flour to be brushed off onto a mat as it is ground – notice the off center position of the stones –  the near side is off-set providing optimal leverage for the person grinding, then the stone goes back to the very edge on the far side where the corn meal is easily brushed onto a mat as it is ground.



The following short video shows how this grinding is accomplished.

As evidenced in the video, a woman's work is quite arduous.  They must be strong to carry water and firewood, as well as do the farming and cooking, the washing and child care.  No wonder few village women are educated -- who would have the time?

Pray for inroads into the lives of Mening women.  Pray that some would be found among them to understand and translate God's truths.

Pray for common ground opening discussions about the stories in God's word.

...may the whole earth be filled with His glory -- the Mening

"Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory.  Amen and Amen."   Psalm 72:19

If someone were to say to you --  Oriaga?   (Orr-ee-ah-jah?)  How are you?

Your response would be -- Oruu  (Orr-rue) fine/good -- if you were Mening that is. 

Forced to relocate in 1956 as the Ugandan government carved out the boundaries for the Kidepo National Game Park; today, the Mening people remain a marginalized group.
As if giving evidence to this fact, the road -- just a dirt track -- is rough, even in the best weather conditions – impassible during the heavier rains.




Ketebo (Keh-teh-Bo) is the spoken language of the Mening people.  Although there is a written form of the language,  there are few Mening who are literate. 

As a group, we are heartily welcomed in Opotipoti village (O-po-tee-po-tee), the southern most end of the Mening area – this, in direct contrast to rumors some had heard of the Mening being a violent and possibly even cannibalistic people.  Nothing could be further from the truth.





The Mening believe in a Creator, but they also believe that appeasement and sacrifice must be made to their dead ancestors.  At death, a goat must be sacrificed to appease the deceased person’s spirit, this ensures that the ancestor will provide a blessing – if this does not happen, Mening believe the family will be cursed.

Mening men sit here at night around a small fire telling stories and
relating events of the day -- I'm sure our visit will be the topic of
discussion for many nights to come.

Pray for Jesus Christ to make Himself known to the Mening people through dreams and visions -- that as they sit around these fires at night, many Mening will desire to know who is this Christ -- the Son of the living God.

A New Testament Bible was left with a Mening man who has a son able to read and understand English.  Pray that the seeds of God's truth, as it is read and discussed at night around these fires, will help the Mening people desire to know Christ -- pray for a harvest of believers when this group returns to engage the Mening people.

Meet a Mening family next week and get a glimpse into Mening life.

God will make a way!

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”  Proverbs 16:9

A recent research trip took us to the north eastern part of Uganda in search of the Mening people.  As we leave Nairobi, our only sure plan is to meet up with a group from the U.S. who want to find the Mening people, beyond that – well, God will make a way.

Meeting this wonderful group of eleven coming from Missouri and Illinois to minister in Africa was a joy.  Arriving late in the night after a long drive from Kampala, everyone is ready to find their beds; the adventure will begin on the morrow.

Space will be tight. After sorting and culling clothing and other items to the bare essentials, we load up the vehicles and are ready to take off.  Reliable information put the Mening people in northeast Uganda, so we head in that direction – God will make a way.

Our research group is comprised of four nationals, eleven volunteers and the two of us. This night will be spent in Soroti, Uganda where we will meet Ambrose, the Director of Internal Security, an acquaintance of Pastor Ignatius, a local pastor from Pallisa, Uganda, who is part of our group.  We will hear his information and make a plan from there – God will make a way.

After pouring over the map and many phone conversations, it seems as though God is continuing to lead us north and east.  Information is sketchy, with some saying the group is now living in South Sudan – discouraging news logistically for us, as money for visas and importation of vehicles will be needed, but – God will make a way.

Knowing a family in the vicinity of Kaabong, Uganda, Jerry decides to contact them and ask if they have any information on this group.  Success comes late in the afternoon; after continuous attempts to obtain their cell number, we finally contact the family.  It just so happens, they are on their way home and will meet us at the cross roads – they will put us all up for the night and provide supper!  God continues to make a way. 

From new information provided we are still unsure if we will enter South Sudan, but everything appears to be pointing to the small town of Karenga, Uganda, so we load up and move out.

Upon our arrival in Karenga we actually come across a few people from the Mening group who tell us their village is called Opotipoti and it is near.  Relieved that we will not enter South Sudan to find the group, we decide to make our base of operations for the next three days in Karenga.
 We are amazed at God’s hand, visible in His leading us, much in the same way as the pillar of cloud and fire for the children of Israel, we are grateful.
God indeed has made a way!

Praise God for His leadership.  Having confirmed the existence of the Mening people; we estimate the population maybe higher than first reported.

Pray for the Mening of Uganda and South Sudan (yes, there are Mening villages just across the border) that God would be preparing their hearts to receive the seeds of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

(More to come on the Mening people!)

You're the God of the Cities

A City is unique in that it is not solely composed of one people group.  When you travel to a rural village within a people group area you are likely to find that most people speak a particular language, dress a certain way and are from the predominate tribe of the area – not so in a city.

Cities contain a plethora of people groups speaking their own language or dialect with unique customs and style of dress all within walking distance of one another – sometimes in the same apartment complex.

Cities make the issue of unique people groups very blurry because people tend to meld into and add to their own customs something of their surroundings.  For example, how many of your parents (those of us 40 years of age and older) ate tacos or enchiladas on a regular basis – we know our parents didn't –  but we eat Tex-Mexican food all the time now – we added it to our cultural food base. This same adaptation happens in large cities across the globe.

Recently we attended a workshop on reaching cities.

This picture was taken during a
prayer focus on Nairobi.

Dialogues  about reaching communities in constant motion, whether physically relocating or culturally and linguistically adapting were conducted between missionaries and nationals from all over Sub-Saharan Africa.

It was a good time of hearing from other parts of the continent and brainstorming ideas on reaching the cities of East Africa.

The meeting was held at the Baptist camp.
The words "Jesus Saves" in the Africaans language
is written in white stone on the hillside as a witness.

Ultimately we know that God is the God of the cities -- He is the King of these people – the Lord of the nations – the Light in the darkness – the Hope to the hopeless – the Peace to the restless.  There is no one like our God.




Pray for God to call out people willing to go to the cities -- they have their own unique challenges -- it will take God called, unique individuals, to reach the people who live in them.

Nairobi Aftermath - Wow what a week

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.  Trust the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4

Perhaps we all need to hear this word today.

The Westgate terror saga has turned from crisis to criticism -- isn't that always the case -- why didn't they do this -- why didn't they do that?  There's also a push for tighter security -- as if man can control the inclinations of evil.

While the world of men try to figure out how to squelch evil, the people of God know what to do -- PRAY!

The picture at the left was witnessed during a "meet me at the pole" gathering at a local christian school in the midst of Kenya's mourning days. (note the flags at half-mast) This is where power against evil is found -- through prayer.

The IMB family held hostage at the mall talked about the calm they felt during the siege -- the opportunities they had to be that calming influence to help those around them.  They didn't have great insight as to what to do while they were held hostage, but they knew the One who had them in the palm of His hand.

Even this week as the U.S. government shuts down Psalm 34 comes to mind.
"I sought the LORD, and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears...
He saved him out of all his troubles...
He delivers them...
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."

Continue to pray for those who lost family and friends and those who were injured during the attack.

Pray that God would continue to confront people with their need for a Savior.

Pray that He would then provide a good and faithful witness to help them find the true peace-giver.

Praying for Kenya

The first day of an official three day mourning period quietly dawned.

God has given me Psalm 116 for these days.


Read it with me in coming days and pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on the people of Kenya in great power, helping them see that only God can provide the help and security they long for... that He is good, compassionate and loving.


Pray that believers would be ready with a word of witness and a warm embrace to help calm their fears and give them hope.

Westgate Mall -- confronting mortality.

"I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.  Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2

This is our prayer for the people of Kenya.  Many people have called upon the Lord in these past days, as the Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi was taking place, it has just been amazing.
As we posted on facebook, we were amazed at the coverage that this event continues to have and the amount of God-glorifying comments.

Thank you for your prayers for us, and on behalf of the people here in Nairobi.

Westgate is just a minute or two walk from our house.  For the past three days the sounds of frequent gunfire, grenade blasts and the roar of low flying police and army helicopters, as they circle atop the mall, are constant prayer reminders.

However the Kenya spirit through the events of this crisis has been amazing. People came out in droves to donate blood, food, water and even money to the Red Cross to help the victims which numbered at 150, (50 remain in the hospital at the time of this posting).  The official government count is 62 dead.

There was a twitter account set up with the address "we are one" and Kenyans, in country, and worldwide, continue to tweet encouragement -- many using scripture verses and God-glorifying comments.  These continue to be read over national television stations.

Amazingly, a national television station played the Christ-centered song, "You're the God of this City" as background music for an image collage of the attack.  Crisis brings people to their knees before the throne!

Pray now for divine appointments -- that God would visit in power through dreams and visions.

Pray that people who were confronted by the question of their eternity would hear and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ, that their question of what eternity holds would be answered.

Helicopters continue to circle overhead ... the Westgate Mall siege in Nairobi, Kenya

The world is a fallen place!  This reality was brought home to Kenyans this weekend.

Nearly 1,000 people buying their weekly groceries or attending specially advertised children's events were brought under attack as the Westgate shopping Mall in Nairobi fell into the hands of terrorists early Saturday afternoon.

The siege continues at this hour -- almost 24 hours after it began.

We are hearing helicopters circling overhead, occasional, sporadic gunfire and sirens (We live a 3-minute walk from the mall). So far this morning an additional four hostages have been released from inside the mall.

We don't know when this crisis will conclude; but we are hearing reports of the indomitable spirit of Kenyans; going in droves to the Red Cross to donate blood for the over 175 injured, taking food, blankets and water to victims in the hospital, and holding prayer meetings in churches for the ongoing crisis.

What you can do ---

Pray for a quick resolution to the siege at the mall.

Pray for family and friends of those who have died in the terrorist attack. (reports say 59 dead so far)

Pray for families and individuals at the mall who were injured or traumatized.

Thank God that most people were able to escape the shopping mall.

Pray for Kenyans and ex-patriots as they come to grips with evil in this world.
Pray that as they see and understand their need for a Savior, they would hear and accept the Good News of Jesus Christ allowing Christ to change their lives and give them peace.

Pray for the Konongo people of Tanzania

Historically, the Konongo people lived on the ivory/slave trade route; today however, the area is a remote, arid woodland toward the west and south in Tanzania.

Modern conveniences have not yet come and available medical care is basic. The knowledge of God was brought by the Catholic fathers which was then interwoven with their own ancestral rituals and witchcraft.  

Today they have little knowledge of God’s FREE gift of salvation. Their efforts are in earning God’s favor and appeasing their ancestors who have the ability to bless or curse life.   Knowing about God and believing in God are two very different things.  

Pray for the Konongo people to understand that God is not only the Creator but our Father who wants a personal relationship with us individually and that He gives the FREE gift of salvation to those who believe in Him.  

Pray that they would be released from the bondage of fear that ancestor worship brings. 

Pray for believers to have a burden to pray for the Konongo people and that God would impress upon willing hearts the need for them to step out of their lives of comfort to tell these lost ones about God’s amazing grace.

Pray for the Kutu people of Tanzania

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.



Located in the vast country of Tanzania, the Kutu, historically, have largely been overlooked by religious groups.  Living along the eastern side of central Tanzania, the Kutu live by subsistent farming; planting rice and maize and raising goats, sheep, and chickens.



Following the Islamic religion, mostly through dress and the observance of Ramadan, the Kutu are not particularly devout,   however; Kutu children attend Islamic school where they are taught the Koran.

While a smattering of Christians and churches can be found among the Kutu; many find it difficult to leave behind their worship of ancestors and try to add a belief in Christ along with their prayers to the ancestors.

Pray for the Kutu to have ears to hear and hearts open to understand that Jesus is the only way to God and to the hope of eternal life.

Pray that God would impress upon the hearts of His people an urgency to share His truth with the Kutu people.

Mzee

Mzee (Mm-zay) is a KiSwahili word with abundant meaning – mature, wise,
elder, respected – not as much, how old you are -- more, how much you know.

Samson Kisia is a mzee among Baptists in Kenya and we have come to listen and learn.  He has been planting churches, discipling and mentoring Christians for over 40 years.  He holds the office of Chairman of the Trustees of the Baptist Convention of Kenya.


National pastors and churches with a heart for reaching the unreached partnering together with U.S. pastors and churches with a heart for reaching the unreached is an effective way of spreading the gospel and planting new churches across Kenya and East Africa.

As we discuss reaching those unengaged and unreached people groups, the question is asked, "What is the greatest challenge for you when going?"

He says, “When I go on a mission and meet a person; I must get to know that person. As I come to know him, I must find scripture that will speak to the heart of that person to lead him to Jesus.”  He continues, “You can’t effectively teach or learn to do missions, you just have to go out and do it.”



"Many groups go with their own agenda. They have so much to do; they don’t sit and listen," remarks Kisia,  "It is important to stay in their home, this is when you truly come to know them."
Kisia continues, “It is important to listen to the heart of the people and get to know them; when you understand their needs, you can show them that Christ is the answer.”

Pray for Pastor Kisia as he prepares to leave for a three week mission trip to Burundi, taking nine others with him. His mission is to be a witness of God’s love and grace to everyone he meets and plant new churches.